Police force advice names standards rather than brands. West Yorkshire Police name TS007 and Sold Secure Diamond (SS312) for euro cylinders and advise 3 stars as the minimum when upgrading. Secured by Design, the official police security initiative, accredits products independently tested to recognised standards as Police Preferred Specification.
Most uPVC and composite doors have a euro cylinder. For these, West Yorkshire Police advice names two nationally recognised standards: TS007, rated 1 star or 3 star, and Sold Secure Diamond, known as SS312. It recommends 3 stars as the minimum if you are upgrading. Its preferred option is a 3 star cylinder on its own, and a 1 star cylinder with a 2 star handle also reaches 3 stars.
The same advice says it is vital that cylinders are measured properly, and that they should not be left sticking out from the door or the handle. It adds that a 3 star cylinder with a 2 star handle gives a 5 star solution if your budget allows, and that 2 star security handles should also be considered.
Secured by Design is the security initiative owned by UK Policing. It does not test anything itself. A product earns Police Preferred Specification by being independently tested to a relevant standard and certified by a UKAS certification body, or by an approved body such as Sold Secure, with regular retesting and yearly factory inspections. Its website lists member companies and their accredited products, and only members can use its logo.
For a replacement lock on an existing door, Secured by Design lists standards including BS 3621 for locks operated by a key on both sides, BS 8621 for locks with a thumb turn inside, and TS007 and SS312 for cylinders. It calls BS 3621 the minimum standard for locks on external or entrance doors. So when police advice backs a lock, it is backing the test it passed, not the name on it.
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